WATCH: Mafa wins 15km nite race in less than 50 minutes
It was the seventh time that Arwyp has sponsored the race
Kempton Road Runners’ annual nite race, sponsored by Arwyp Medical Centre, welcomed 1 050 athletes, fun-runners and their four-legged friends at Barnard Stadium last Wednesday evening.
Despite looming clouds earlier in the day, clear skies made for a fun-filled 5km run and exciting 15km race. Participants, dressed in everything from club colours to tutus, started entering the stadium at 5pm. Here, music and food stalls entertained the bubbling crowd until the start of the race.
Kempton Road Runners chairperson Elize van Staden had the honour of shooting the starting pistol.
Best Ngwenya crossed the finish line in 17:17, hailing first in the 5km race. Close on his heels was fellow TPT Nedbank athlete Thomson Magagane, who crossed the finish line five seconds later. It was a good day for Team Nedbank as their teammate, Andrew Mogoklane, came in third.
Age was no problem for Tenike Blinden (13) and Marizaan Mccabe (17), who came in first and second in the women’s division of the 5km race.
The sun was soon replaced by a full moon, under which Thabang Mafa from Tembisa finished first in the men’s division in the 15km race. His final time on the stopwatch was 49:23, meaning he averaged just over three minutes per kilometre and walked away with the cash prize of R600.
A few seconds later Rockies racer Simon Mpholo crossed the finish line with a time of 49:50 to claim second place. Piet Sebalo from the Gallopers came in third in 50:25.
Tuks runner Simonay Weitsz came in shortly after the men, in 59:40, to claim first place for the overall women’s in the 15km race, despite being a junior. Second place went to Massmart athlete Katy van Meter in 59:57 and third place to Cobie Smit from Vitality in 61:21.
The 15km race also had age group winners. Of the juniors (under 21 years old) Thabo Shabangu was first of the men and Simonay Weitsz first of the women. The age group of runners between 40 and 50 years saw
Simon Mpholo first of the men and Leigh-Ann Marrucci first of the women. The over-50s winner was Solomon Khumalo of the men and Rita van Wyk of the women.
Finally, the grand masters of running, those over 60, saw Marius Carstens take first place for the men and Rina Machado first in the women’s division.
Marketing manager of Arwyp, Chantell Rudolph, said the medical centre was happy to sponsor this event for the seventh time.
“We’ve seen the nite race grow each year and we are proud of our community for promoting healthy lifestyles.”
